Bruce Lazarus, the CFO of Hexadyne, presents Mayor Leffingwell a check for $10,000, to fulfill the mission of Honor Flight Austin. Asks others to do the same.

Mayor Lee Leffingwell and Hexadyne Corporation today, July 17, announced the Honor Flight Gratitude Challenge urging local corporations and organizations to match or exceed the $10,000 that Hexadyne is giving to Honor Flight Austin to honor our World War II veterans.

The challenge is to raise $120,000 with the goal of funding the remaining fall Honor Flights to fly 120 veterans to Washington, D.C., to the memorial built in their honor. The challenge ends Aug. 15, 2013, Victory over the Pacific Day, which marks the end of WW II.

“As a Vietnam veteran I encourage our community to consider contributing to this very worthwhile cause,” Mayor Lee Leffingwell said. “I was fortunate to go on one of the first Honor Flight trips last year and the emotion and gratitude of our veteran heroes was priceless. I thank our supporters and Hexadyne Corporation for its support to make the remaining trips happen.”

Five WW II veterans and Bruce Lazarus, Chief Financial Officer of Hexadyne Corporation, joined the Mayor to call on local organizations and corporations to match or exceed their donation of $10,000 to support Honor Flight Austin’s mission.

“To help kick-start the funding needs of the WW II Veterans/Honor Flight Austin program, I am donating the first $10,000 of the $120,000 that is needed to take the next 120 WWII Veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit their memorial,” Lazarus said. “I challenge the rest of Austin and surrounding Central Texas communities to help fund this program in record time. This is a small token of appreciation for the men and women who unselfishly gave a large portion of their lives to save not only our county, but to save the world.”

Since Honor Flight Austin was established in 2012 the organization has gone on seven missions and has transported 230 WW II veterans to see their dream destinations. Approximately 1,000 WW II veterans live in the 14 Central Texas counties that Honor Flight Austin supports.

Contributions to Honor Flight Austin can be made here on our site, securely.